In a year when golf tournament sponsors have been crucified for excessive spending on Sheryl Crow concerts and the like, one company is making the case that sponsoring golf still is good business.
To coincide with the opening day of the Barclays Singapore Open on Oct. 29, Barclays will host over 400 clients at a business forum with former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as the keynote speaker. It is the firm’s flagship conference in Asia and has become one of the most popular elements of tournament week.
“We bring our clients from all around Asia for two days in the Barclays Asia Forum,” explained Barclays president Bob Diamond. “Last year I chaired it with Dr. Henry Kissinger. . . . We have speakers on economic events and politics. It's a great event.”
Clearly, tickets, a beverage and a hot dog no longer get it done as a form of client entertainment, but not even TMZ.com or The New York Times’ Maureen Dowd can raise an eyebrow at a conference to discuss global issues confronting markets, businesses and governments.
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